Marquis Yachts president and CEO Rob Parmentier told Carver and Marquis dealers that news reports regarding a shutdown and furloughed workers March 1 are incorrect.
“We want you to know that these news reports are not accurate,” Parmentier said in a letter to dealers. “We expect that there will not be any disruption in the continued production of our yachts.”
Parmentier explained that under Wisconsin business-closing and layoff laws, the Pulaski-based builder was required to file paperwork that caused uncertainty among the dealer network.
“We were required by certain federal and state laws to notify our employees of the possibility of a temporary closure of our facility beginning on March 1,” Parmentier said in the letter. “As such, to protect our employees, we filed a notice with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. We recognize that this notice generated news reports that were not accurate and, unfortunately, created confusion among the dealers and possibly your customers.”
The letter is a “true statement of where we’re at today,” vice president of marketing
Matthew Vetzner told Trade Only Today. “We’re open for business. We are selling boats.”
Vetzner said Marquis is bringing people back as production ramps up on an outboard version of the M42 dayboat.
“We had a positive Miami boat show, with lots of traffic,” Vetzner said, adding that discussions regarding the transition of ownership are continuing.
“By all accounts, we are off to a strong 2020,” Parmentier said in the letter. “We are continuing to market and sell our boats.”
